NEO appoints Fahnestock as new Vice President for Academic Affairs

Officials at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, (NEO) received approval Friday from the OSU/A&M Board of Regents to appoint Bethene Fahnestock as the College’s new Vice President for Academic Affairs effective July 1, 2012.

“Bethene’s experience in new program development, accreditation and program review makes her the ideal candidate for the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs” said Dr. Jeff Hale, NEO A&M College President. “The OSU/A&M Board of Regents and I have great confidence that Bethene Fahnestock will lead with great distinction. I want to thank Mr. Roger Fent and Dr. David Loving who co-chaired the search and the many faculty and staff who served on the committee.”

Fahnestock holds a diploma in nursing from Research Medical Center School of Nursing, Kansas City, Missouri; a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Pittsburg State University and a Master of Science degree from the University of Kansas.  She is currently a Ph.D. doctoral candidate at Oklahoma State University.  She is also active in community service. 

Fahnestock began her career as a registered nurse, working at St. Francis Hospital, Tulsa, Okla. and Baptist Regional Health Center, Miami, Okla.  She came to NEO College in 1990 to teach in the nursing program.  She continued her career at NEO as the Health Science Division Chair, Director of Institutional Research, Dean for the School of Human Environmental Sciences, and the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs.

She serves on numerous institutional committees as well as coordinating the institutional accreditation activities.  She is a representative on the Regional Educational Action Team and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Economic Development Council.  She has also served on the State Regents Retention Taskforce. 

Fahnestock has presented at The Higher Learning Commission Annual Meeting in Chicago, Ill, and the Oklahoma Women in Higher Education Conference in Edmond, Okla.  She is a peer reviewer for the Journal of Career and Technical Education.  She was a recipient of the 2009 Joplin Business Journal Healthcare Heroes Award for Education. Fahnestock is the past president of the Miami Noon Lions Club and a charter member of the Miami Animal Alliance. 

“I am definitely excited about the opportunity to serve as the Vice President for Academic Affairs.  I have enjoyed the last 22 years of my career at NEO,” Fahnestock said. “We have experienced many positive changes during the last three years, and I look forward to working with the faculty and staff to continue this momentum by developing new programs that meet the needs of students and employers and by exploring new ways to promote student success.”

New degree programs at NEO A&M College include:

2011-2012

Sports Management – Associate in Science

This program prepares graduates for transfer to a sports management program at a four-year college or university.  The curriculum combines introductory courses in sports management with lower division business courses.

Process Technology – Associate in Applied Science

This program prepares graduates for skilled jobs in manufacturing, with an emphasis in chemical process technology.  The curriculum includes courses in industrial safety, instrumentation, process quality, and process equipment used in many industries.

2012-2013

Natural Resource Ecology and Management – Less Than One-Year Certificate

This program prepares students for first year internships with federal, state, and private sources.

Natural Resource Ecology and Management – Less Than Two-Year Certificate

This program qualifies students for internships with federal, state, and private sources as well as prepares completers for technician jobs with federal and state agencies.

Photo caption: Bethene Fahnestock, NEO’s new Vice President for Academic Affairs 

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